BACKGROUND: The incidence of cutaneous melanoma has increased over the last decades. Recurrences occur most frequently within the first 2-3 years after diagnosis but patients carry a lifelong risk of relapse. Nevertheless, there is no consensus in the literature on what screening tests patients should undergo. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the most common melanoma metastasis sites among a South Brazilian population from a city with one of the highest melanoma rates, and establish the best screening method for these patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional retrospective study of 108 consecutive melanoma patients followed up at a center from 2009 to 2013. Data were collected on demographic and tumoral characteristics, as well as the site of the first diagnosed metastasis. RESULTS: Patients were divided into 3 groups for analytical purposes: Non-visceral metastases (48% of patients), visceral metastasis (39%) and brain metastasis (13%). We tried to correlate age, gender, mean Breslow thickness, mitosis and death rates with the aforementioned groups but none showed any statistically significant association. CONCLUSION: Melanoma patients must be monitored to detect early relapse and subsequent effective treatment but the best follow-up strategy remains to be established.
BACKGROUND: The incidence of cutaneous melanoma has increased over the last decades. Recurrences occur most frequently within the first 2-3 years after diagnosis but patients carry a lifelong risk of relapse. Nevertheless, there is no consensus in the literature on what screening tests patients should undergo. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the most common melanoma metastasis sites among a South Brazilian population from a city with one of the highest melanoma rates, and establish the best screening method for these patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional retrospective study of 108 consecutive melanomapatients followed up at a center from 2009 to 2013. Data were collected on demographic and tumoral characteristics, as well as the site of the first diagnosed metastasis. RESULTS:Patients were divided into 3 groups for analytical purposes: Non-visceral metastases (48% of patients), visceral metastasis (39%) and brain metastasis (13%). We tried to correlate age, gender, mean Breslow thickness, mitosis and death rates with the aforementioned groups but none showed any statistically significant association. CONCLUSION:Melanomapatients must be monitored to detect early relapse and subsequent effective treatment but the best follow-up strategy remains to be established.
Authors: Keith T Flaherty; Caroline Robert; Peter Hersey; Paul Nathan; Claus Garbe; Mohammed Milhem; Lev V Demidov; Jessica C Hassel; Piotr Rutkowski; Peter Mohr; Reinhard Dummer; Uwe Trefzer; James M G Larkin; Jochen Utikal; Brigitte Dreno; Marta Nyakas; Mark R Middleton; Jürgen C Becker; Michelle Casey; Laurie J Sherman; Frank S Wu; Daniele Ouellet; Anne-Marie Martin; Kiran Patel; Dirk Schadendorf Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2012-06-04 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Paolo A Ascierto; Dirk Schadendorf; Carola Berking; Sanjiv S Agarwala; Carla Ml van Herpen; Paola Queirolo; Christian U Blank; Axel Hauschild; J Thaddeus Beck; Annie St-Pierre; Faiz Niazi; Simon Wandel; Malte Peters; Angela Zubel; Reinhard Dummer Journal: Lancet Oncol Date: 2013-02-13 Impact factor: 41.316
Authors: April K S Salama; Nicole de Rosa; Randall P Scheri; Scott K Pruitt; James E Herndon; Jennifer Marcello; Douglas S Tyler; Amy P Abernethy Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-03-13 Impact factor: 3.240